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Lucas hopes for new Liverpool contract

Lucas Leiva has outlined his determination to stay at Liverpool, with his current deal due to expire in 2012.

Lucas, who is currently preparing to represent Brazil in their friendly against Scotland at the Emirates on Sunday, endured a difficult transition after signing for Liverpool from Gremio in 2007 and admits he feared for his future.

"Things were not looking good and some supporters were obviously not happy," he told The Guardian. "I still think people needed to see the bigger picture. The move to Liverpool represented a change of country, language and there was also the not so small detail that I was only 20 and arriving at a traditional club in one of the most demanding leagues in the world.

"Also, few people seemed to remember Liverpool had a group of players that had made two of the last three Champions League finals. It would have been impossible to just parachute in. Maybe the supporters thought a Brazilian midfielder would do magic.''

He added: "In Gremio I had carte blanche to go forward and participate more in the attacking plays, but things had to change when I arrived in Liverpool, where I am used much more as a holding midfielder. That transition took time and made settling in even more challenging."

However, he maintained the faith of Rafael Benitez and remained first-choice under Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish. The current Reds manager was full of praise for the midfielder in February when asked about his position in the Dunga role for Brazil, and Lucas is hopeful he has done enough to convince Liverpool to offer him a new deal.

"I have no reasons to go and I hope the club see things the same," he said. "It would be fantastic to play for Liverpool in the Champions League again and I don't see why we can't return. We have a squad that is united in its will and desire to return this club to where it belongs."

While he was also quick to hail both Benitez and Hodgson, Lucas has stressed the importance of Dalglish's appointment.

"I could see that Dalglish was unbelievable as a player, but he has also made an impression on me as a manager," he said. "The world is full of great players flunking as managers, but Dalglish has rescued our confidence and at the same time he has helped us think a bit better."